Health Benefits of Lemon Grass

Lemon grass or the local tanglad (scientific name: Cymbopogon ciatrus)
is one of those wondrous herbs that one can always associate with Asian
cooking Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese homegrown meal enthusiasts always have this tropical
grass at hand for its aromatic citrus flavor with a trace of ginger.
Few people know that its other popular name is citronella - the common
scent you usually find in candles, perfumes and soaps.

Citronella is known for its calming effect that relieves insomnia or
stress. It is also considered as a mild insect repellant. But more than
scent, tanglad or lemon grass provides a lot of health benefits. Studies
have shown that the lemon grass has antibacterial and antifungal
properties. Mixed with pepper, it's a home therapy for menstrual
troubles and nausea. Drank as
tea, it is an effective diuretic. When it comes to pets, citronella is
used to neutralize excessive barking of dogs. Since dogs hate
citronella, it is sprayed to dogs to prevent them from barking or just
to lessen the behavior.

The Lemon grass is a good cleanser that helps to detoxify the Liver,
pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract. It cuts down uric
acid, cholesterol, excess fats and other toxins in the body while
stimulating digestion, blood circulation, and lactation; it also
alleviates indigestion and gastroenteritis. It is said that lemongrass
also helps improve the skin by reducing acne and pimples and acts as a
muscle and tissue toner. Also, it can reduce blood pressure. Just make a
concoction by boiling some lemon grass leaves, let it cool for a while
and drink the liquid.

The leaves and base of this tender perennial are used as a food
flavoring, particularly in fish and poultry dishes, and its essential
oils are used medicinally. Its distinctive flavor balances hot chillies
and contributes to the elaborate, multi-layered flavors of many dishes
in South East Asian cuisine.

As the long, thin, grey-green leaves are tough and fibrous, the outside leaves and the tips
are usually chopped very finely or discarded from the dish before it is
served. The base is often ground. Citral, an essential oil also found
in lemon peel, is the constituent responsible for its taste and aroma.

Lemon grass, also known as Sweet Rush and sometimes called Fever Grass
in the Caribbean, can be used as a remedy for ague, fevers, and colds.

Filipino ingenuity has produced a commercial beverage made from lemon
grass. A concentrate composed of lemon grass juice and muscovado sugar
bottled in attractive design.

A recent study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the
department of Science and technology ( DOST ) claims that every 100g of
edible tanglad when boiled can contain up to 24.205 micrograms of
beta-carotene the anti-oxidant that scientists believe can help prevent
cancer. Another DOST study shows that lemon grass oil has the potential
as a tropical eye medication against keratomycosis, an inflammation of cornea often associated with burning or blurring of vision.By: ManolitoMontala